BigKid.com.au

EQ Chronicles: the Epic Quest

The problem with being high level and uber, as my Bard undoubtably now is, is that it’s difficult to relate what is happening in a pithy manner. There is a lot happening of course, but it is varied and slower than at lower levels. Battles that would have been worthy of an effusive Chronicle 20 levels ago are now a common occurance, and merely small stepping stones to much larger goals. His ultimate quest, however, has reached the point of it’s conclusion after a full year of toil.

The smaller quests and goals are many. For instance, the War of the Eighth Coldain Ring is over, though the details are almost not worth relating. The real work was done during the preceeding seven steps. The final battle was won in less than five minutes thanks to a carefully planned, diversary tactic which side-stepped the main conflict and went straight to the target, the Orc Chieftan. A level 60 monk drew him away before he and his henchmen could engage the Dwarves. My group then dispatched him inside a minute, I (rather gruesomely) took his head to my Coldain contact, and with trumpet fanfare was awarded the Eighth Ring - leaving frightening lines of giants and orcs scratching their heads outside the fort, wondering what happened to the fight. The ring is very nice, and comes with a pretty right-click spell effect. I am now working on the 9th part of the quest, which rewards a significantly upgraded ring.

Concurrently, I and my guild have been raiding - a lot. We have spent a significant amount of time in the Halls of Testing in the Dragon stronghold of the Temple of Veeshan, fighting dragons. They are smaller cousins of my beloved dragon kin, and technically do not die upon losing in battle but translate elsewhere to return at a later date; or so the story goes. They are simply there to prove us with their damaging area heat and cold spells (ie. they hit everyone in the near vicinity - thanks my recently acquired resist gear and bardsongs), and as a result their “deaths” do not affect our standing with the dragon world. The corpses they leave behind often carry highly covetted armor pieces which, when combined with rare gems, become powerful and unique sets of class specific armory. My Bard is now only two of the biggest pieces away from a complete set, though he really only needs one of them, due to a formiddable giant.

In concert with regular HoT raids we have also been handing out regular spankings to Derekator the Vindicator, a nasty name in the giant capital of Kael Drakkal who is quite capable - indeed born - to repeatedly lay waste to entire guilds. All too easily, I might add. No matter how careful our preparation, each battle hangs on a knife’s edge. One mistake by any of the 40 people there results in a lot of corpses. The nice thing about Vindi (as he is affectionately known) is that once overcome, he drops powerful breast armor, and rarely, some potent jewelery. More than several people in my guild already sport the breastplate. My lucky Bard is in line for one soon.

Soon we will be raiding the Temple of Veeshan proper, where we will be killing real dragons. The excursion will temporarily tarnish my Bard’s reputation with dragon kin, but will be worth it. Lots of more power items are held by the wurms there, and ToV is a right of passage into the high levels of the game. It can’t be missed. It’s all exciting, and yet from my Bard’s point of view is merely garnish to his ultimate goal: gaining his Epic weapon.

Every class in Norrath has a unique Epic Weapon which must be gained via long and difficult quests. The difficulty of the many tiered quests varies from class to class, as does the effectiveness of the final prizes, but all carry colourful particle effects (the only items in the game to do so). The Warrior Epic is a glowing two handed sword which can be split into two glowing red and blue single handed swords, all with nice damage, speed, and magical effects. Unfortunately, by the time they get to the top end of the game most Warriors who have it have placed it in the bank in favour of more powerful weapons. Some, unbelievably, even destroy it to make room. The cleric Epic is a sparkling mace with the ability to bestow unlimited resurrections. It is also the cause of perhaps the greatest conflict in Verant’s online world, as characters vying for the final piece spend literal weeks waiting in line to compete with each other for a seven day spawn (real time). The Rogue Epic is a small ignominious dagger with nice attributes and a subtle sparkle along it’s blade. It is also the easiest Epic to gain. The entire quest can be completed within hours with enough help and luck.

Not so the Bard Epic. My Bard first began his journey toward it a year ago in the bushy expanses of North Karana. He has now, through various means and long journeying, acquired all the necessary pieces but one. Some were given, some (the rarist) were purchased, others were won. The final battle involves an Undead Bard deep beneath the lost city of Old Sebilis, within the undead-filled forest of Trakanon’s Teeth. Once defeated, the UDB spawns his hated, half-rotted undead dragon master, Trakanon. Trak is more than capable of decimating complete guilds, and does so regularly. My Bard must kill him and take his guts to be used as strings on a mystical lute, which will then be exchanged for my beloved Singing Short Sword. Apart from being a great weapon which simultaneously provides musical bonuses equivalent to every possible instrument (thereby boosting the effect of every song sung by a signicant percentage), it trails a slow stream of nifty dancing blue notes. I want it.

So currently my Bard is camped in Seb, awaiting the Undead Bard (my guild just recently took down the normal Trakanon, and so is ready for the battle). This greatest of all Bardic quests promises to be a long slow wait, and a spectacular final fight. It’s taken a year to get here. I have no idea what it will feel like to finally succeed, but I can assure there will be music in Norrath when I do. Watch for the dancing blue notes.

Previous Chronicle

  posted by monty · at 9:09 am · filed under EQ Chronicles